Income from the Parent(s) of a Teen Parent Younger than 18 Years Old for TAFDC

(A) Requirements. ( 1) The income from any parent of a teen parent younger than 18 years old living with them is considered available to the teen parent's TAFDC filing unit as follows: (a) The amount of the gross earned and unearned monthly income of the parents of the teen parent that is over 200% of the federal poverty level for a family composed of the parents and those individuals living in the same household who are, or could be, claimed as dependents of the parents for federal tax purposes, excluding the teen parent and his or her dependent child, is deemed to the teen parent's filing unit on a monthly basis; and (b) The gross monthly eligibility standards are posted at www.mass.gov/dta and can be viewed by selecting the Program Eligibility Charts and Tables link. Paper copies are available upon request. (2) If the income of the parents of the teen parent younger than 18 years old cannot be determined because of the failure or refusal of the parent of the teen parent to cooperate in providing the required verifications, the teen parent's assistance unit is ineligible, and assistance is denied or terminated. (3) The income of a stepparent living with the parent of a teen parent younger than 18 years old is excluded when determining the eligibility and grant amount of the teen parent and his or her dependent child. (B) Verifications. (1) The gross earned and unearned income of the parents of the teen parent younger than 18 years old shall be verified in accordance with 106 CMR 704.290. (2) The number of individuals claimed as dependents for federal tax purposes is verified by one of the following: (a) a copy of the most recent federal income tax return; or (b) a copy of the most current federal income tax withholding form, if the person is not self-employed. (3) If parents could have claimed certain individuals living in a parent's household as dependents for federal tax purposes but were not, the person must submit the following verifications: (a) a signed and dated statement listing the additional individuals claimed to be dependents, but not listed on his or her most current tax return or federal income tax withholding form; and (b) an affidavit signed by the parent( s) that he or she is providing over 50% of the support for each dependent listed in 106 CMR 704.236(B)(3)(a).